Why Commuting by Bike Cuts Sick Days

Consider yet another compelling reason to contemplate cycling as a mode of transportation to the workplace: recent research has elucidated that individuals who commute by bicycle are generally predisposed to experience fewer instances of sick leave, as well as a diminished likelihood of prolonged absences due to health-related issues.

This study, spearheaded by researchers affiliated with the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, meticulously scrutinized self-reported data from a substantial cohort of 28,485 municipal employees over the span of one year, with a considerable number of participants subjected to follow-up assessments in a subsequent year.

In juxtaposition to passive commuting—such as traveling by private vehicle or public transit—those who pedaled a robust 61 kilometers (approximately 38 miles) weekly exhibited a 8-12 percent reduction in the probability of taking sick days and an astounding 18 percent decrease in the likelihood of being absent for no less than ten consecutive days owing to illness. Notably, the most physically active commuters reported, on average, 4.5 fewer days of sickness than their passive counterparts, coupled with a reduction of one long-term illness episode per decade.

“Existing scholarship has chronicled the health and environmental advantages of active commuting; however, its correlation with long-term absences due to illness has remained uncharted territory,” asserts Essi Kalliolahti, a public health scientist within the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

Although the researchers considered a range of variables, including sex, age, alcohol consumption, and socio-economic status, the data underscores a robust correlation rather than a direct causal relationship between cycling and health outcomes.

These findings resonate with prior investigations pertinent to bicycle commuting, although the underlying reasons for this association remain speculative. It is plausible that those who maintain an active lifestyle might inherently possess a lower susceptibility to various common health afflictions; conversely, individuals with pre-existing health challenges may find cycling to be an arduous endeavor.

In contrast to walking, the researchers established that cycling is evidently superior in curbing sick days, though this advantage appears predominantly among those undertaking more extensive cycling commutes. This may suggest that mere walking may not sufficiently elevate physical exertion or that long-distance cyclists may benefit from other, unexamined factors that contribute to their enhanced health.

Despite its myriad benefits, cycling remains an impractical choice for everyone—especially in urban environments where it may pose stressors—but it is a viable strategy to enhance attendance at work while concurrently mitigating emissions associated with alternative commuting means.

“Given that only half of adults meet the recommended levels of physical activity, incorporating cycling or walking into daily commutes can serve as a strategic means to foster health-promoting exercise,” remarks Jenni Ervasti, an epidemiologist affiliated with the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

Ultimately, the implications of this research advocate fervently for the promotion and investment in active commuting, particularly cycling.

This study has been published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports.